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A restricted free agent has three seasons of service and receives a "qualifying" offer from his current team. He can negotiate with any other team. But if the restricted free agent accepts an offer from a new team, his old team has a "right of first refusal" where it can match the offer and retain him, or choose not to match the offer, in which case it receives one or more draft picks for the upcoming draft from the player's new club.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

RB Isaac Redman
NT Steve McLendon

An exclusive rights free agent is a player who is not under contract but only has two years of service. If his current team makes him an offer at the three-year minimum NFL salary, he must take it or leave the NFL.

A restricted free agent has three seasons of service and receives a "qualifying" offer from his current team. He can negotiate with any other team. But if the restricted free agent accepts an offer from a new team, his old team has a "right of first refusal" where it can match the offer and retain him, or choose not to match the offer, in which case it receives one or more draft picks for the upcoming draft from the player's new club.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS

RB Isaac Redman
NT Steve McLendon

An exclusive rights free agent is a player who is not under contract but only has two years of service. If his current team makes him an offer at the three-year minimum NFL salary, he must take it or leave the NFL.

I wonder if we tender wallace a 1st round and a team in the 15-20s range in the draft tries the sign him would you be cool letting him go? In that slot draft guard Decastro (spelling). And still have a chance STILL DRAFT A QUALITY PLAYER AT OUR POSITION. (kuntz, Hightower,OT, NT,S,Wr, Rb)

Would there be much of a drop off on O with Sanders, Brown, Cotchry, Ward, FA, rookie and healthy and revamped OL combo of Gilbert-Dec-Pouncey-LEG/Foster-Colon or Starks at Lt .

***PLUS****
Ward - Retire/Restructure or Cut (I don't think it is possible to restructure without creating dead money past this year. I would be all for if he wants to come back at vet min. I Love Ward but this will turn into the same thing when the extended him. He will make the Steelers look like the bad guys and say he will take a pay cut to stay but the business side of the Steelers really make that an impossible task. He wants to play...But he can't play at the level he wants to get paid at. I hope he walks away and allows the Nation to remember him for what he truely is...A Steeler for life. If there is a way to get him in for 2012 around the vet min number without cutting him & creating additional dead money...I'm ok with it.)

Smith - Retire

Farrior - Retire/Restructure or Cut (I believe he has 2 years remaining and cutting him or retiring would cost the Steelers 2 mil of dead money but at least it would be a savings in 2012 versus the 3.8 mil he would cost against the cap. Foote is being paid as a starter now so let him play until the rookie ILB takes his spot. If there is a way to get him in for 2012 around the vet min number without cutting him & creating additional dead money...I'm ok with it. He is a reserve at this point.)

McFadden - Cut

Kemo - Restructure or Cut

Hampton - Restructure (More than likely he will start on PUP. His number needs to come down if he isn't on the field. His injury is bad timing and this could turn ugly.)

Hereís my first pass (Iím not considering any salary-cap implications, just the players Iíd like to see back in Pittsburgh, from most likely to least likely):

Unrestricted free agents:

1. Max Starks. I know the coaches donít like him because heís chubby but the o-line went from F- to C the moment he stepped on the field. That unit should strive for mediocrity and Starks provides that.

2. William Gay. Hard to imagine that the secondary now has plenty of depth. I think Gay is most valuable as a nickel back, and if Keenan Lewis or one of the other young guys can win the No. 2 job, Gay will have an important role as the No. 3 defensive back.

3. Jerricho Cotchery. Heís the new Hines Ward. Not nearly the blocker, but clearly became a favorite of Ben down the stretch.

4. Chris Hoke. (Assuming he has anything left in the tank and doesnít retire.) Pittsburgh could be without Aaron Smith and/or Casey Hampton depending on perceived value/cap hit.

5. Trai Essex. Heís a body who can play the interior line positions and, god forbid, left tackle.

6. Byron Leftwich. Seems happy to be a backup and Chaz might finally retire, right? Iím speculating about Batchís future, and honestly, Iím indifferent to whether he or Byron serves as Benís No. 2. Guessing Dennis Dixon will want a chance to play elsewhere, but the Steelers will have to think about getting younger at the position.

7. Charlie Batch. Interchangeable with Byron.

8. Mewelde Moore. He was a great free-agent acquisition a few years ago but his career has probably run its course with Rashard, Isaac, Dwyer, Batch and Clay all on the roster.

9. Daniel Sepulveda. Love this guy but he canít stay healthy. Kapinos can and I donít really see the difference between the two.

10. Dennis Dixon. Guessing heís gone.

11. Anthony Madison. Have to assume heís an extreme longshot to make the squad out of training camp.

Restricted free agents:

1. Mike Wallace. I admit to being angry enough at him during the Broncos game that I thought he shouldíve been benched, but Wallace is one of the leagueís best receivers. He just has to be more consistent. That saidÖ if the Steelers sign him to a first-round tender, I might be willing to let him walk for the first-round compensation.

2. Keenan Lewis. Dude could be starting in 2012.

3. Doug Legursky. Like Essex, Dougie can play every interior line position. The difference: heís pretty good.

4. Ryan Mundy. I like Mundy and think he does well when heís out there. He forced two fumbles against the Broncos, although he was also out of position when Ike Taylor got burned one last time in Denver.

5. Ramon Foster. Another warm body who got better over the course of the season. Heís not great, but heís average which again is what the Steelers o-line should aspire too.

6. David Johnson. He should probably be higher for his H-backiní abilities. That said, he dropped his share of passes in 2011 and Iíd like to see Weslye Saunder get more snaps next season.

7 . Jamon Meredith. Never got to see him play. Assuming heís on the roster for ďOh god, we have no one leftĒ situations.

Re: Pittsburgh Steelers' free agents for 2012

yikes its going to be a very different offseason then most that is for sure. who would of thought the majority on this board would want to re-sign william gay? what an improvement he showed this season. i will be very happy when the steelers dont sign david johnson. he is easily the worst player at any position on the team

Re: Pittsburgh Steelers' free agents for 2012

I think Kapinos is an Exclusive Rights guy --- has he accrued 2 years with another team? I thought he was an undrafted rookie last year. He should be in the same boat as Redman & McClendon. Lose Sepulvda & keep Kapinos at vet minimum, he can't negotiate anything higher.

Re: Pittsburgh Steelers' free agents for 2012

Ed: Which Free Agents Stay, Go

THURSDAY, 12 JANUARY 2012 WRITTEN BY ED BOUCHETTE

Here is the Steelers list of free agents of various kinds. Who do you sign, who do you try to sign, who do you let go into free agency and maybe sign later, who do you ignore completely? There will be others not kept who are not on this list.